Electric swivel connection



' 14, 1931. NIELSEN 1,800,698

ELECTRIC SWIVEL CONNECTION Filed Nov. 5. 1928 l NVENTOR AJZ Nielsen BYZ/k4,.

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 14, 1 931 ABILD ANNENEU'S MARNDOBJET NIELSEN, OFBROOKLYN, NEW YORK ELEOTBIOSWIVEL CONNECTION Application filed November5, 1928. Serial No. 317,136.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in electricaldevices, especially electrical connections, and has more particularreference to a novel electric safety swivel a connector.

The invention has for an object the provision of a device of the classmentioned which is of simple durable construction, desirable in use andefficient in action, and

l which can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

The invention proposes the use of an insulation body provided with aninner shield circular pro ecting wall concentric with and engageablewithin an outer shield circular grojecting wall from a second insulationody. A circular contact support wall projects from the second insulationbod and an inner ring contact engages on the inside of this wall whilean outer ring contact an ages on the outside of the wall. An inner gercontact is attached on the insulation body and engageable a ainst theinner ring contact, and an outer finger contact is attached on theinsulation body and engageable with the out er ring contact. The ringcontacts are of such height so as to be disposed beneath the surface ofthe outer shield projecting wall, and the contact fingers are of suchheights as 60 be disposed within the inner shield wa A novel feature ofthis construction is that the insulation bodies ma be separated and nocontacts will project cm the boundaries thereto. This presents a safetyfeature in that the contacts cannot readily be short circuited. It isparticularly pointed out that the shield walls are depended upon forshielding the contacts from accidental touchlhis swivel connector may beused in tool handles for connecting electric wires therewith or may beused intermediate of its ends of electric leads. Of course, this is nota limit-ation since there are many other uses for the device. In allthese uses the insulation bodies may be accidentally separated by a ullon the wires and as the insulation bodies all, they may come in contactwith metal surfaces, but due to the shielding walls there is no dangerof short circuiting. Obviously, if the contacts of the device shouldpro- 'ect from the boundaries of the insulation odies, short circuitingwould occur.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more par- 60 ticularly setforth.

In the accom anying drawing forming a material part 0 this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a connector constructed accordingto this invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation view of a tool handle providedwith a connector constructed according to this invention.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation view of a connector with the insulationbodies separated.

Fig. 4 is ,a vertical sectional view of the device with the insulationbodies engaged.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view looking in the direction of the arrows 55of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an elevational view looking in the direction of the arrows 66of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the inner ring contact with a port-ionthereof broken away.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the outer ring contact with a portionthereof broken away.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of one of the finger contacts of thedevice, and

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a flat electrical connectionconstructed with the swivel connector at one end.

Fig. 11 is a side elevational view of an electric light socket with theswivel connector applied.

The reference numeral 10 indicates generally an insulation body providedwith an inner shield circular projecting wall 11 concentric with anouter shield circular proj ecting wall 12 from a second insulation body13. These bodies are arranged for engaging each other so that they mayswivel, and so that they may be separated. This feature is accomplishedby inter-engaging portions allowing rotation, and a drawing apart.Sufiicient play shouldbe allowed between the engaging parts to permitthe desired actions withoutexcessive efiorts.

The second insulation body 13 is provided with a circular contactsupport wall 16 pro "jecting' from the inner side thereof and with ringcontact has an inward turned top edge 20 and a connector lug 21 at itsbottom edge. An outer ring contact 22 is positioned on the outer side ofthe circular wall 16 and is held by inwardly pressed portions 23engaging the material of the wall. This outer ring contact is formedwith an outward bent edge I 24 and a connection lug 25 at its bottomend.

The second insulation body 13 is provided with apertures 26 throughwhich electrical leads 27 pass. These leads form electrical connectionswith the lugs 21 and 25. Screws 27 enga e in these lugs and provide ameans for attac ing the leads to these lugs. These leads extend from theinsulation body and connect either with a source of current or with someelectrical device.

An inner contact finger 28 is attached onto the insulation body 10within a recess 29 formed in the recess 30 within the boundaries of theinner shield wall 11. This inner contact finger connects with the innerring con-' tact 18. An outer contact finger 31 is secured on theinsulation body 10 within a recess 32 in communication with recess 30,and conof the body.

The insulation body 10 is formed with apertures 34 and leads 35 passthrough these apertures and connect with the contact fingers. Thecontact fingers are provided with screws 36 for serving as clamps forattaching the leads '35.

These .contact fingers are formed as shown at 37 and adapted forengaging the bent edges 20, 24: of the contactrings. It is pointed outthat this arrangement aids in holding the insulation bodies together andat the same time does not prevent turning of the bodies relative to eachother. The wires 35 may connect with a source of electrical current ormay connect with some electric device.

In Fig. 2 the insulation body 10' comprises a portion of a tool handle.This kind of tool is not shown, but may be an iron or any other device.In Fig. 10 a socket 10 has been illustrated integral with an insulationbody 10. In other respects this arrangement them apart and the shieldwalls protect the contacts from accidental short circuiting. It ispointed out that should the insulation body 10 rest upon a metal surfacethe contact. fingers will not be short circuited. This is also true ofthe second insulation body 13, that is, should it rest upon a metalsurface the contact rings will not be short circuited.

The path of the current may readily be traced, starting at one of theleads '35, the circuit continues to one of the contact fingers, e. g.say the outer contact .finger then through the outer ring contact andalong the lead 27. The other lead 35 connects with the inner contactfinger, the inner ring contact and finally the second of the leads 27.

In Fig. 11 a lamp 40 is illustrated engaged in a socket 41 having a plugconnection 42 at its rear end. Integral with the rear end of the plugconnection 42 is an insulation body 10, and a second insulation body 13is in swivel connection with the latter body as previously described.

While I have illustrated and described my invention with some degree ofparticularity, I realize that in practice various alterations thereinmay be made. the right and privilege of changing the form of the detailsof construction or otherwise I therefore reserve altering thearrangement of the correlated 7 parts without departing from the spiritof the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I clalm as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. An electric swivel connector, comprising an insulation body with aninner shield proj ecting wallforming a recess within its boundaries,a'second insulation body with an outer shield projecting wall'engageable against the inner shield wall and forming a recess withinits boundaries, a circular contact support wall within the recess of thesecond body member, an inner ring contact fixed within the support wall,an outer ring contact fixed on the outside of the support wall, an innercontact finger attached in the recess of the first body and engaging theinner ring contact when the bodies are engaged with each other, and anouter contact fin er mounted similarly to the inner contact finger forengaging the outer ring contact, the ring contacts and the fingercontacts being formed with bent up edges, for the purpose of aiding inholdingthe bodies in swiveled connections.

2. An electric swivel connector, comprising an insulation body with aninner shield projecting wall forming a recess within its boundaries, asecond insulation body with an outer shield projecting wall engageableagainst the inner shield wall and forming a recess within itsboundaries, a circular contact support wall within the recess of thesecond body member, an inner ring contact fixed within the support wall,an outer ring contact fixed on the outside of the support wall, an innercontact finger attached in the recess of the first body and engaging theinner ring contact when the bodies are engaged with each other, and anouter contact finger mounted similarly to the inner contact finger forengaging the outer ring contact, the ring contacts bein held againstdisplacement by bent portions tierefrom engaging the material of thesaid support wall.

3. An electric swivel connector, an insulation body with an inner shieldprojecting wall forming a recess within its boundaries, a secondinsulation body with an outer shield projecting wall engageable againstthe inner shield wall and forming a recess within its boundaries, acircular contact support wall within the recess of the second bodymember, an inner ring contact fixed within the support wall, an outerring contact fixed on the outside of the support wall, an inner contactfinger attached in the recess of the first body and'engagin'g the innerring contact when the bodies are engaged with each other, and an outercontact finger mounted similarly to the inner contact finger forengaging the outer ring contact, the bodies being formed with apertures,and leads passing thru the said apertures and attached on the contactsby set screws, the ring contacts being provided with projecting lugs forreceiving the said leads.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New Yorkthis 12th day of October, A. D. 1928.

ARILD ANNENEUS MARNDORFF NIELSEN.

comprising

